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Tuesday, 23 February 2016

With Social Justice Warriors and Intersectional Feminism on the rise, I feel there are a few words I would like to propose adding to our lexicon.

Cisism: the hate of cis-gendered people

This is already being used as a twitter hashtag, and there are plenty of examples.

Examples:

Mascaphobia: The hate of all MRA's.

First use:

Mascaphobia is the hate of all Mens Rights Activists, or anyone who remotely stands up for men's issues. Often people call them misogynist before blocking not only them, but all of their followers. The key point here is to equal all MRA's as one ideology, one method and one voice, in the same way islamophobia and homophobia uses sterotypes to justify their hate and fear. Often the block helps protect the masacphoic from the fear of hearing a narrative, or seeing facts and evidence that contradicts the macaphobs.

Examples:

Femaphobia - the hate of Feminism and Feminists

First use:

Femaphobia is the hatred of all feminists, regardless of ideology. This effectively equates feminists such as Christina Hoff Sommers with Andrea Dworkin and hating them on an equal level because they both use the term 'feminist', even though they have opposing ideologies. This dismisses the long history and the huge variety of forms of feminism into one group that a Femaphob hates, possible through fear of the power that feminism has welded in the past and continues to do so, such as changes in the law to suit women but oppress men (e.g. the hugely biased Duluth Model used in family courts to remove children from their Fathers).

Femaphobia should not be confused with Anti-Feminism, Misogyny, or those who target specific types of feminism they hate. It is for use when someone hates all feminists equally without distinguishing between types of feminism (e.g. Intersectional, Radical, Freedom, Choice etc.)

Examples:

What do people think? Would these terms be useful? Do they add value to a conversation?

Description:
While other forms of feminism concentrate on First World problems, Transnational Feminism captures those from the Third World using a global network, but filtered through a local lens that considers the unique manifestations of patriarchal oppression of each locality due to their history and local traditions [2, 3, 4, 5].

Transnational Feminists work closely within ingrained local traditions and often use gradual changes, working with local men to influence local communities by improving living standards for their families and the community [3].

Due to the wide range of challenges Transnational Feminism faces by taking on local issues on a global scale, they do not have a single ideology but are made up of many [2], however there are some running themes, starting with their roots from Intersectional Feminism.

There are links between Intersectional and Transnational Feminism in that they both consider gender to be a social construct, and they consider the combined oppression of characteristics such as race, gender, and sexuality of economic exploitation caused by a global capitalist market. This also makes them take on a range of challenges facing different characteristics such as homosexual rights. As such it is considered part of Third Wave Feminism [2, 3, 4, 5, 6].

Another similarity between Transnational and Intersectional Feminism is they both emerged from a backlash to Second Wave Feminism which considers all women suffer from the same form of oppression and need the same solutions [1, 3]. However, Transnational Feminism highlights that the First World and Third World have very different challenges. For example Third World women struggle with basic necessities such as access to education, minimum wage jobs, basic housing, preventing female infanticide, anti-dowry legislation, putting an end to child marriages, and so forth whereas Intersectional Feminism concentrates on language and the portrayal of women [5, 7]. Every locality strives for the next level of need, but each locality sites on a different part of that scale and Transnational Feminism recognises this and supports local change using a global network [5].

One of the areas Transnational Feminism concentrates on is immigration, and the oppression that non-nationals face within a country such as not having the same access to the national domestic services as the local citizens [4].

Definition of Equality:
Various, but has strong links to Intersectional Feminists outcome equality for the collective based on a hierarchy of oppression due to identity politics but on a global scale.

Gender is a 100% social construct.

Root cause of problems:
Capitalism, local history, and local traditions.

Dates:
Third Wave Feminism, from the 1980s.

Examples:

History:
Transnational Feminism grew out of the opposition to Second Wave Feminism [1, 3], having similar links to Intersectional Feminism in the 1980s. It emerged from Western Feminism taking on Third World problems [2].

It is considered part of Third Wave Feminism [5].

Critique:
Transnational Feminism has been criticised for having to work with local men to accomplish change in a community. This not only due to many women in less developed countries depending on men for a transfer of resources to meet basic needs, but also because the women in the local area identifying as part of their community, rather than as part of the feminist sisterhood and the men are often the ones empowered to create the community changes [5].

With their concentration of gendered issues, Transnational Feminism could easily be seen as unpopular in the local community as they come in from the outside and inform local women they are oppressed. Getting support to change community way of life would be challenging [0].

Some feminists may be disappointed by the slow pace of change brought forth by Transnational Feminism [0].

Trying to appease local populations while simultaneously maintaining a unified global front can be tricky and full of conflict. This makes Transnational Feminism appear as an unorganised mass struggling to get funding from First World countries to support change in Third World counties. Those in the First World may not agree with the changes, and the problems don’t impact them directly [0].

One of the biggest criticisms of Transnational Feminism is their rejection of Human Rights, which they claim are the rights of the individual and can be problematic to collective groups. They also contend that Human Rights are often masculine in nature and don’t take other characteristics into account, such as the experiences of women, coloured, poor, rural, disabled, and homosexual viewpoints [2].

By spreading themselves too thin, Transnational Feminism could be accused of ‘trying to boil the ocean’ by not only taking on multiple locations due to their local perspective, but also additional plights of other oppressed issues such as race and sexuality rather than keeping to women’s problems. By combining them it would be difficult to make any real headway without breaking down the problems into smaller parts, which might compete with each other to be solved [0].

Due to their collective and Marxist roots Transnational Feminism suffers many of the same critiques as Socialist and Intersectional Feminism.

Allies and enemies:
Transnational Feminism is one of the few forms of feminism that actively targets Third World issues rather than concentrating on First World problems. This gives them a lot of praise and support [0].

However, due to their underlying collective and identity politic ideology not everyone, especially other types of feminists, will agree with their methods or the message they send to Third World women, such as informing them they are oppressed [0].

Description:
Intersectional Feminism added to the Socialist Feminism concept of capitalism oppressing women by considering additional characteristics. They contend that eliminating profit-driven society it will remove the underlying motivation for the oppression of collective groups [3, 4].

Intersectional Feminism takes not only the oppression of gender (including transgender) but also race, class, ability, sexual orientation, religion, caste, age, local customs, local history, and other identifiers into account by forming a ‘hierarchy of oppression’ through combining the perceived oppressions of these characteristics [4, 6, 12, 20]. For example, a black women is consider more oppressed than a white women, due to the additional oppression of her race.

Intersectional Feminism has its roots in Black Feminism [2, 10] which arose after women of colour felt previous forms of feminism did not represent them.

Intersectional Feminism is part of Third Wave Feminism becoming popular in the 1980s. By this time in the Western World women already had the right to vote, equal pay for equal work, greater rights to their bodies, and a greater right to education. Thus, Third Wave Feminism concentrates on issues of language, stereotypes, and the media portrayal of women, with particular interest in dismantling social binary concept of male and female. Sometimes this includes changing the definition of words to suit the Intersectional Feminist ideology [1]. This is an extension of the concept that gender is a social construct, not a biological one [5].Definition of Equality:
Equality of Outcome for the Collective with a hierarchy of oppression based on identity.

Gender is 100% a social construct.Root cause of problems:
Capitalism and language.

Dates:
Became popular in the 1980s onwards as part of Third Wave Feminism.

Examples:

History:
Intersectional Feminism has its roots in Black Feminism, which started as early as 1974, but start to become popular in the 1980s [7, 8]. This makes it part of Third Wave Feminism.

It came from a backlash against ‘white western’ feminism, which people of colour argued did not appreciate their double oppression of being female and of colour. They felt previous incarnations of feminism only represented middle class white women, who already had increased privilege [8].

The term ‘Intersectional’ is used instead of ‘Black’ to make it more inclusive and allow white feminist to join the fight [0].Critique:
By using the term ‘Black’ Feminism it birthed the tag ‘White’ Feminism. However, using the term Intersectional Feminism instead has largely reduced this animosity within feminism based on colour, which weakened the overall feminist movement [7, 10]. It also dismissing those of mixed-race and the experiences of other non-white [0].

Our own Blaise Wilson concocted the term ‘The Hierarchy of Oppression’ and discussed the negative impacts in an earlier article, particularly highlighting the erasure of victims based on gender and race after Intersectional Feminists claimed a non-white women cannot be sexist or racists against white men, setting a dangerous precedent and dismissing individual victims due to a collective privilege or oppression [0, 20].

George Orwell’s book ‘1984’ has often been cited as being ‘a warning not a manual’ by critics of Intersectional Feminism in response to their extreme attempts to control language. These controls are often seen as ‘petty’, causing some outcry that if language is the last oppression of women and race, then for all intense and purposes real discrimination has been eliminated [0].

The control of language is also the control of freedom of expression, putting Intersectional Feminism squarely against Freedom of Speech [25].

Intersectional Feminism often no-platform people they disagree with, rather than engage them in debate. Even Radical Feminists who disagree with parts of the Intersectional ideology [26]

Often opposition to Intersectional Feminism campaigns place the term ‘gate’ at the end, for example ‘DictionaryGate’ [21] referencing the Watergate Scandal and recently having been made popular by the ongoing ‘Gamergate’ discussion.

By using identity politics Intersectional Feminism is encouraging individuals to be judged on their gender and race first, and their ability as an afterthought [0].Allies and enemies:
Social Justice Warriors (SJW) and Intersectional Feminism are difficult to tell apart, making them perfect allies, with the two terms being used interchangeably [0].

Intersectional Feminism has become very pervasive, gaining power in hugely influential places such as the UN (where they produced the UN Cyber-violence report [22]), and has gained favour within the Atheist Plus community which has now started de-platforming prominent Atheists for crimes such as retweeting a parody YouTube video making fun of Feminists [23]).

The Intersectional Feminist victim narrative has also seeped into Twitter and Facebook. Both sites now getting a reputation for an ad hoc application of punishments against those who actively denounce Intersectional Feminist ideology. Twitter has even set up a ‘Trust and Safety Council’ supported by a range of organisations, many of whom stand against freedom of speech on grounds of being offended [28]

Intersectional Feminism and SJW attempted to infiltrate the gaming community, and have had some success in their attempts to censor video games to make them less ‘problematic’. Some games are no longer planned for release in the western world entirely. One possible example being a contribution for the decision not to release Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 in the UK and US markets [27]

Gamergate arose to highlight the poor ethic in gaming journalism, but Intersectional Feminism and SJW co-opted the message and twisted it to be about women in gaming, attempting to shame Gamergate by naming them as a hate group [0].

This shaming and control of language to call groups that disagree with Intersectional Feminism has become a trend. With the mainstream media not wanting to be labelled racist or sexist, they promote the SJW retorts and push a their narrative that Men’s Rights Activists and anyone else perceive to challenge the Intersectional Feminism ideology as a hate group against women [0].

Due to the perceived pettiness, lack of principles and attacks on other groups there has been a backlash from women against Intersectional Feminism through a movements such as Women Against Feminism [24].

Intersectional Feminism has made some very powerful allies in high places, but the result of this is a huge backlash from an increasing amount of sources [0].

Sub-Types of Intersectional Feminism

Africana Wominism, Chicana Feminism, and Postcolonial Feminism

There are some forms of Intersectional Feminism that particularly concentrate on certain sub-groups. Examples of these are Africana Wominism, Chicana Feminism, and Postcolonial Feminism [8, 10, 14]. Each of these sub-groups add specific dimensions to the narrative.

Postcolonial Feminism concentrates on the rejection of colonial power relationships, which they perceive strips natives of their local customers, traditions and values [12].

Africana Wominsm concentrates on the implications of the historic slavery of people of colour [8].

Chicana Feminism, also called Xicanisma, concentrates on the Mexican-American women that identify as Chincana and their historical, cultural, spiritual, educational and economic perspectives [14].

Womanism
Womanism was created as an alternative to feminism with one advocate claiming it wasn’t better or worse, they simply preferred the sound of Womanism over Feminism. They also cite they felt feminism was forced upon them and looked for a viable alternative [8].

Sunday, 7 February 2016

Caveat: These are the thoughts and ramblings of Blaise Wilson, they do not represent the EgaFem Community as a whole. They are often poorly researched and highly biased. They are useful to start a discussion on a topic. Comments, debate, evidence for and against, and feedback are welcome.

As an Opportunity Feminist, I often struggle with the dominate Outcome Feminism view of the world. However, under our ‘Patriarchy is Love’ hypothesis we postulated that the oppression of women does not come from hate, but come from a protective love of society trying to keep women safe.

This made me wonder, with their often infantilising and fearmongering assertions they think keep women from harm, does Third Wave Feminism have much in common with an ultra-patriarchal state such as Saudi Arabia?

Marriage, Divorce and Multiple Partners
Marriage is Saudi is a contract between a women's male guardian and her husband. There has even been an instance when the male guardianship changed (her father died) and her brother decided to divorce her from her husband, despite them being happily married and fought against the divorce. Although forced marriage is technically illegal the contract doesn't really include the woman's opinion. Also a man is allowed up to four wives, so long as he can support each equally. In a divorce the children are pretty much automatically given to the Father. After a divorce or death of her husband the women’s guardianship reverts back to her closest male relative.

In the Outcome Feminist Western Culture when a marriage breaks down it is pretty much always the women who gets the kids... and the house and child support. This is mostly due to the fact that men are the main providers and cannot leave work in order to raise the kids, so it makes sense to continue to let the women, who is often the main caregiver, continue in that role. In Saudi a man may have multiple wives who can take care of the children even if one women dies or leaves.

By having children by different men, women can effectively have multiple child support cheques from different men. Although not married to them at the same time (or at all) but not far off polyandry. And because of the women often gains the house and alimony, men have started to see marriage as too risky and avoiding it, even if they have children [32, 33].

Education and Work
In Saudi some jobs are reserved for men. Women are only allowed to take jobs that don't restrict them being mothers and raising children. Being a mother is considered the highest and most important job a woman can, and should, do. Although education is opening up in most areas due to the gender segregation they are limited to which roles they can apply for. But jobs are also created for them. Female only banks and other jobs are opening up that men are not allowed to apply for.

And in Saudi women are highly educated. They graduate at a higher rate than men. The same is true of the Outcome Feminist Western Culture as men fall behind both in number and results of education [34, 35].

Also in the Outcome Feminist Western Culture high end jobs are creating unofficial and official quotas for women for certain jobs (despite employing people on grounds of gender being illegal). This effectively reserves jobs for women that are now unattainable for men [36]. And women are starting to earn more than men in some instances [37, 38].

Policing
In Saudi Arbia they have religious police known as mutaween. They can enforce Sharia Law through punishments ranging from fines to imprisonment. Crimes include a women talking to a non-relative male.

Outcome Feminism has Twitter and mob mentality.

Through high profile viral campaigns Outcome Feminism is enforcing its own laws and consequences. For example Manspreading. For those uninitiated into the mainstream Feminist circle, Manspreading is when a guy leaves his legs wide open when sitting. Hardly a legal requirement for a man to not be comfortable while in a public space but that hasn't stopped men being arrested for it [39].

In the meantime some Feminists think they can decide what men can, and should, be attracted too. Claiming that to point out a women should lose a few pounds and is currently unattractive is Fat Shaming [40].

And when someone does or says something Feminism doesn't like they use their power to have them chased from their jobs, even when they are then proven to have been joking [41].

And women shouldn't even take self-defence classes because society should protect them, they shouldn't have to defend themselves – that's victim blaming [42]. This is the ultimate in Outcome Feminism actually promoting patriarchy by teaching women not to take responsibility for themselves, expecting men to do it for them.

Even to the point where basic human rights are ignored as due process and innocent till proven guilty are out the window with Title IX and the Yes Means Yes Campaigns [43].

Laws Against Criticism
In Saudi Arabia it is against the law to criticise the religion of Islam.

In the Outcome Feminist Western Culture they are trying to make it illegal to criticise Feminism. And for those worried about Poe's Law – no this is not a parody. This is reality.

Not only did some Outcome Feminists attempt to have a man sent to jail for disagreeing with them [53], but they are also trying to make being an Anti-Feminist illegal.

In America this is primarily through the Title IX law, which can now be used to silence anyone who disagrees with women, refuses to do a job for them or saying something they find offensive [44]. Details on what Title IX is can be found in the references [46].

However in the EU they are trying to outright ban being an anti-feminist. They are equating it to intolerance. The law has gotten past the first hurdle and is to be debated as law in the EU [47]. As an Opportunity Feminist I believe in principles, including the freedom of thought, should apply to all. If individuals want to be Anti-Feminists that is their choice. Those who oppose your ideology should be met with well-constructed arguments and evidence – not be forced into submission.

Yes, you read right – it may soon be ILLEGAL to be an ANTI-FEMINIST in the EU. So much for freedoms and principles.

The Future of Outcome Feminist Western Culture – Islamic Inspiration
Outcome Feminism is becoming more like Islam every day. And I'm not the only person who’s noticed it [48].

During this thought experience, as I thought Outcome Feminism couldn’t degrade itself any more - but I kept I finding more similarities. The face-palming was intense. However, here are a few ideas the Outcome Feminists could be inspired by:

In Saudi women cover up to save their modesty and to respect their God and religion. Outcome Feminism demands men don't even look at women (that's Stare Rape), but women should be allowed to dress as anything, even walk about naked. One way this can be addressed is to pass a law that men must wear blinkers while in public. And be led about by a female-relative. Kind of like a horse. This would also require a man have a female-relative as a guardian to ensure he doesn't rape anyone while in the public domain.

In Saudi men receive twice the inheritance than women. In the West it was also common for the oldest male child to inherit everything, leaving all their siblings – including older female siblings, with nothing. This oversight can be corrected by ensuring that women, for a time, gain twice as much as their male counterparts to even the score.

In Saudi there is a safe space in the home. Men are not allowed in this area – it is reserved for women. It is where women can escape from the men in their lives and be with other women. Feminists should demand that Western homes ensure a safe place for women – maybe even a Panic Room for women in which men are not allowed on pain of the police being called for trespassing.

Seriously Outcome Feminists. You have a hell of a lot in common with the patriarchy of Saudi Arabia… are you sure you’re Feminism-ing right?

Saturday, 6 February 2016

Caveat: These are the thoughts and ramblings of Blaise Wilson, they do not represent the EgaFem Community as a whole. They are often poorly researched and highly biased. They are useful to start a discussion on a topic. Comments, debate, evidence for and against, and feedback are welcome.

As an Opportunity Feminist, I often struggle with the dominate Outcome Feminism view of the world. However, under our ‘Patriarchy is Love’ hypothesis we postulated that the oppression of women does not come from hate, but come from a protective love of society trying to keep women safe, which protects them from the failure of risk and personal responsibly, but also protects them from the rewards of success.

This made me wonder, with their often infantilising and fearmongering assertions they think keep women from harm, does Third Wave Feminism have much in common with an ultra-patriarchal state such as Saudi Arabia?Saudi Arabia and Feminist Western Culture Comparison
I'll start with the similarities then move onto issues where Saudi Arabia has some differences that Third Wave Feminists might yet be inspired by. This was the gift that kept on giving – the result of which is this is a two part post.

Protection for Women
Both Saudi Arabia and Feminism have the same good intentions – to protect women. It is, however, suggested that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Both try to protect women from physical attack and abuse, however Third Wave Feminism goes one step further by protecting women's feelings – with a popular meme linked to this kind of Feminism of “your rights end where my feelings begin.'

Both reduce women's individual choice, disallowing them to make their own decisions and belittle them to the point of children. In Saudi this is done through a male guardian who has to make all the women's decisions for them.

However, some Feminists have decided that women should not make choices based on their own personal happiness and that their version of Feminism should make the decisions for them, for the greater good of womankind [7] and a variety of feminist campaigns are belittling women's ability to consent or make their own choices [8]. Some Feminists goes as far as demanding all women are, by default, Feminists – robbing them of the personal freedom to choose their own ideology (however, they should be careful what they wish for, as this encouraged me to become a Feminist – just not the kind they approve of!).

In Saudi a women's statement is worth half that of a man's in law, and it takes six men to provide enough evidence for a women to prove her identity [2].

The 'Yes Means Yes' Campaign could be argued to reducing the right of Innocent until Proven Guilty and creating a 'his word against hers' justice, in which he needs to provide evidence, while she doesn't. This effectively gives women more voice under law.

Dress Codes
In Saudi Arabia women are expected to cover up completely, with only the hands and eyes showing. Normally in all black. It is against the law otherwise, with harsh punishments.

Some rabid Outcome Feminists also have dress codes, they are enraged when men wear shirts they see as sexist, and claiming this is what stops women from joining STEM. Even if the gentleman in question managed a huge scientific feat, and the shirt in question was a gift from a female friend [9]. They shame men and other women when they wear tops they disagree with their Feminist viewpoint [10]. It has gotten so bad some have claimed they have a Feminist Fashion police [11].

Although the dress code set out by Outcome Feminists isn't as harsh as Saudi Arabia (yet) there are clear ramifications and judgement, forcing others to conform to a set standard by the mainstream Feminist Culture that makes them feel comfortable.

Segregation
In Saudi Arabia there is gender segregation throughout. In shops, banks, restaurants and so forth. Many Western facilities are non-existent, such as clubs as alcohol is banned. In other areas women are not allowed at all such as gyms and some government buildings.

In the couch fainting Feminist Western Culture 'safe spaces' for women are being provided by universities and events to ensure they have women only areas for them to escape too, away from men and ideas that might offend or upset them [12, 13]. Some of them have Feminist colouring books and videos of puppies along with counsellors.

There are also a range of women only clubs and restaurants opening [14] and some shops are creating segregated timed openings [15]. In the clubs and restaurants men are only allowed in with a female escort – the reverse of the Saudi rule.

Women in Saudi are not allowed to drive and public transport is very limited or refuses to take them entirely, this limits their freedom of movement. Outcome Feminism demands 'safe spaces' on public transport – ensuring women are safe from Stare Rape while travelling on a train or bus. This would naturally limit men's movements as they would struggle to get on the already overcrowded public transport [49].Rape, Sexual Assault and Stranger Danger

In Saudi there are no specific laws to protect against rape. However when it happens the punishment for men ranges from flogging to death. But, the women is sometimes also blamed and punished.

Within UK and US law, heavily influenced by the Outcome Feminist Patriarchal Theory, ‘made to penetration’ is not rape – thus women can't rape a man (expect by using an implement). And these Feminists push that men can't help themselves and do not know that rape is bad, hence the 'teach men not to rape' campaign [16]. Saudi have a similar approach, however they address this by asking women not to flaunt themselves in front of men and covering up. Outcome Feminism encourages the opposite, through slut-walks in response to a suggestion that they shouldn't be so provocative when they go out [17].

While Saudi doesn't recognise women's plight, Outcome Feminism is keen to cover up female rapists [18], even going as far as punishing male victims of statutory rape, forcing them to pay child support if their rapist gets pregnant [19].

In Saudi women are not allowed to talk to non-relative males. But in mainstream Feminist Western Culture due to the prevalence of women calling rape under the 'Yes Means Yes' campaign men fear for their reputations and livelihoods, and are avoiding women [20].

And then there are the horrific honour killings. In Saudi women who are raped are sometimes murdered by their families to cover the shame brought on them.

Outcome Feminism, although as far as I know haven't directly murdered anyone yet [50] are calling for and possibly contributing to the deaths of men- mostly over reputation. Although the twitter hashtag #killallmen is said to be a joke [21] some Feminists are not only calling for the reduction of the male populace to 10% but have done calculations to ensure their theory is sound and have step by step plans on how to get there [22]. I really hope that article was Poe’s Law, but it is very hard to tell.

There is also assassination though reputation by forcing employers to fire people who make jokes about feminism, even if they are later vindicated [23].

But then, why kill someone when they are busy doing it themselves? In the UK the leading cause of death for young men is suicide [24]. And some suicides have been linked to divorce courts [25, 26], in which the high biased Outcome Feminist Duluth model [51] is used.

The honour killing of men, without a women raising a finger – the ultimate in a women getting a man to do the job for her. And society not only allows for this but support it through a mixture of apathy towards men's issues and causing them (which by our ‘Patriarchy is Love’ hypothesis, actually increases the oppression of women).

Domestic Violence
Domestic violence against women has only recently become recognised by law in Saudi. It is often behind closed doors and difficult for women to escape, especially if the source is her male guardian.

In the mainstream Feminist Western Culture male victims tend to go unnoticed and unsupported. To the point that Feminism is determined to ensure that it stays a women's issue, even if their figures of up to 90% of the victims are correct (the evidence on male victims ranges from 10 to 50% depending on what statistics you use [27, 28]) this still leaves 10% of victims as male. Is a victim not a victim due to their gender? In the UK the official statistics put male victims at close to 40%, with a ratio of over 100:1 safe spaces for battered women verses men [52].

The narrative that only women matter is so embedded in western culture that the US Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), despite being written as gender neutral, clearly makes a statement that men are irrelevant through it's very title. It has also been highlighted as causing further laws to discriminate against men [29], even though officially it is meant to protect both genders [30].

There is very little recognition and support for men as a result, and men feeling that even if they did complain they would be laughed at. When the founder of the first women's shelter, Erin Pizzey, saw men being harmed too and wanted to create a shelter to help male victims (regardless of how many there are statistically) she was terrorised and forced to leave the country, after receiving a multitude of death threats, her mail had to be diverted to the bomb squad and her family dog was shot [31].